September 8, 2005

Taco StewBrown beef, drain and rinse with warm water to remove excess fat. Combine beef and rest of ingredients (except cheese and chips) in a Dutch oven. Simmer on low heat till heated thoroughly.

 

Stewed Okra and TomatoesOkra and tomatoes are combined to make a delicious dish. This would be good as a side dish or could be tossed with pasta for a light meal.

 

Black Bean SaladMix all salad ingredients together. Pour the chilled dressing mixture over salad. Stir, mixing well. Serve in bowls. Serves: 6-8.

 

Creamed SpinachCoat a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray, add the onion and saute over medium heat for 5 minutes or till tender. Stir in the spinach and cook for 1 minute.

 

E Is For Elephant EarsHeat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray. Heat butter until melted, set aside.

 

Stickie Quickie BarsCombine flour and yeast. Heat the milk, water, butter, sugar and salt until warm. Pour into yeast mixture. Add egg, beat on high of mixer for 3 minutes by hand, stir in 1-3/4 cups flour. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

 

D Is For Delicious DrumsticksMix flour, salt, pepper in bowl. Dip chicken drumsticks into butter, then roll in flour mixture. Arrange on an ungreased square pan.

 

Apple Cabbage SlawStir together yogurt and mayo in a large mixing bowl. Add coleslaw mixture and apple, stirring lightly to coat with dressing. Cover and chill.

 

Almond GelatinCombine gelatin and water in a small saucepan. Let stand 5 minutes. Cook over low heat till gelatin is dissolved. Set aside.

 

Avoiding ATM FeesAvoid high ATM fees by only using your card at your local bank's ATM machine or you can also use it to get cash back at the store.

 

What Do You Want To Be Called?We have been trying to think of a good name to call ThriftyFun readers. Do you have any ideas?

 

Paper Bag StationeryGrocery brown bags or other brown bags accumulating? Don't thrown them away. You can use them to make nice and dainty stationary to write your grocery list or your recipe for next week's party or your shopping list or your to do list.

 

Buying Christmas Gifts EarlyHave Christmas gifts purchased by August and wrapped by September and you will have a relaxed holiday season!

 

Keeping Your Favorite Recipes HandyI don't like using my favorite cookbooks in the kitchen. They get messy and don't last as long. I also don't like having to look for them when I need them. To solve this problem, I made up a list of recipes that I make often, then I bought 2 of the wire-bound index card pads.

 

Cleaning Venetian BlindsTo clean venetian blinds. Fill bath tub with enough warm water to cover blind. Add equal amounts of Tide & Spic & Span. About 1/2 cup each.Soak blind for short time. Blinds & cords come out clean without any scrubbing. Rehang blind with towels on window sill till dry. There is no danger combining the two cleaning agents.

 

Add Vinegar to DishwaterA little white vinegar added to your dish water improves your soap's grease fighting performance.

 

Help Us Name Our ServersThriftyFun is adding a new server next week, bringing the total to three. Do you have any name ideas for our servers? Feel free to post them below.

 

Jeans Pocket Drink CoastersThe back pockets of jeans may be used as fun drink coasters! I remove them from the pants, put some backing on them (quilted material for example), with a water resistant glue or sew them on, and voila! I have drink coasters that can even be put into the washing machine.

 

Clothespin Puppets on a StickRound-headed peg clothespins have been a quick crafts staple for decades - so much so that many crafting supply companies package them as 'crafting pins' or some similar name.

 

Removing Vinyl Flooring?I need to take up particle board to make the floor the same level as the hallway. I will then put down Hardibacker Cement Board and then ceramic tile. Any suggestions on tearing up the vinyl flooring and then the particle board? Wow, this is hard! I think I need a guy!

 

Small-Time Investing?I would really love to know if anyone can help me with this. I believe in investing in things that help me live more frugally, or that pay a good return. So my question is this: If you had a hundred dollars, how would you invest it to get a good return?

 

Paint Technique To Lighten a Dark Room?My fairly small bedroom is painted a beautiful, but unfortunately, pretty dark blue - sort of royal blue. I would like to keep the color, but maybe lighten it in some way - maybe some sort of glaze rag rolled on or something. Anyone have any ideas that aren't terribly expensive?

 

Recipes Using Apples?I recently bought several bags of small apples (a really good sale or so I thought). They are a little on the tart side, and are quickly bruising. Any advice on simple recipes to get them used up quickly? Also, how can I sweeten them?

 

Chili With Too Much Oregano?I have too much oregano in my chili. What can I do?

 

Urine on Car Upholstery?My child had an accident in the car. How do you remove urine from car upholstery?

 

Laundry Organizing Tips?Tips to help you organize your home's laundry. Post your ideas.

 

Dyeing Flannel?Has anyone ever dyed flannel? I have about 10 yards of it that I may want to dye.

 

Smelly Outdoor Trash Can?I have an outdoor trash can that is issued by the city. The prior owners obviously put trash in there without bagging it. The trash can is disgusting to smell. It is at least 55 gallons. I have filled it and soaked it in bleach water in the sun several times.

 

Painting Techniques for Covering Flaws With Paint Or Texture?My kitchen could use painting but the walls aren't in the best shape. Is their an easy and of course inexpensive way to paint or texturize it so the flaws are less noticable? Thanks so much for any ideas!

 

7 Year Old Baby Stain?Does anyone know how to remove a 7 year old dark stain from an offwhite heirloom crochetted WOOL christening dress? I'm guessing that the gown was put away 7 years ago without cleaning the baby spit-up and now the spots are a dark brown (rust color) mess. I'm scared to death to put something on it and make it worse yet it's ruined if I don't.

 

What is this bug? (Silverfish)This is a small, simple looking, long bug with small feet that are not very prominent. It is dark gray on the top, and on its underside, it's white. It does not appear to have wings or any really noticeable features.

 

Homemade Chocolate Milk?How can you make chocolate milk at home without the chocolate separating from the milk? Chocolate syrup always ends up at the bottom of the cup.

 

Saving Money on Postcards?Tips for saving money on postcards. Post your ideas.

 

Dogs Chewing Everything?We have two puppies that love to chew on everything from the dining table legs, chair legs, plastic garbage bags, weights and have even destroyed the blue padding that covers the springs on a trampoline! I've tried scolding verbally, they ignore me. I tried showing them the fly swatter and smacking my hand with it, also to no avail.

 

Bread Machine Banana Bread?I am looking for an easy recipe for banana bread that can be used in a bread maker.